Is Buying a Used Toyota RAV4 Hybrid a Good Idea?
Buying a used vehicle is a great way to save a little while upgrading your ride, but does the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid change things? It has batteries to consider along with traditional internal-combustion engine concerns. Is buying a used Toyota RAV4 Hybrid the way to go?
Updated on 06/07/2023 for freshness.
Is buying a used Toyota RAV4 Hybrid worth it?
Maybe, there is a lot to consider when buying a used Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, including its mileage, condition, vehicle history, reliability ranking, and price. On that note, you can get started with a 2023 RAV4 Hybrid for about $30,725.
According to TrueCar, the average price of a used RAV4 Hybrid ranges from $2,975 to $50,998. The mileage ranges between five to 298,404. That’s pretty broad, but the RAV4 Hybrid maintains an extremely high resale value and could be extremely reliable.
The RAV4 Hybrid first emerged in 2016, and the RAV4 was redesigned in 2019, so there are two generations to consider. The current generation offers updated tech and amenities, but the previous generation is more affordable.
Plus, the RAV4 Hybrid is fun and efficient. It pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to provide 219 hp. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.1 seconds. It gets an EPA-estimated 41 mpg in the city and up to 38 mpg on the highway.
How reliable is the RAV4 Hybrid?
You can probably find a pretty reliable used Toyota RAV4 Hybrid model. The RAV4 Hybrid earned a reliability score of 82 out of 100 for J.D.Power, meaning it has an above-average ranking.
Anything between 91 to 100 is considered to be the best, while scores between 81 to 90 are good. Rankings between 70 to 80 are considered to be average.
With regular maintenance and proper care, the RAV4 Hybrid is expected to last between 200,000 to 250,000 miles. However, there are some RAV4 Hybrids that have surpassed 300,000 miles.
A used RAV4 Hybrid with over 100,000 miles is considered to be high milage, even though it could provide more years of service. After crossing 100,000 miles, the chance for minor repairs such as replacing belts, the water pump, and brake rotors increases.
Plus, the battery warranty expires after 150,000 miles. The RAV4 Hybrid batteries are expected to last between eight to 10 years, though. Replacing the hybrid battery may cost around $3,000 before maintenance fees. Be sure to have the batteries tested during each service interval.
You can technically drive a hybrid vehicle without the batteries, but the gas-powered engine and battery packs work together. Driving a hybrid without batteries could have negative impacts on the engine.
Replacing a Hybrid vehicle’s battery can be worth it based on mileage. A new battery could provide years of extra life. However, if the vehicle has racked up tons of miles and isn’t in good condition, it might not be worth it.
Do used RAV4 Hybrid models have a lot of problems?
No, used Toyota RAV4 hybrid models don’t have many reports of problems. According to Car Complaints, the 2019 RAV4 Hybrid has the most complaints but only racked up 35 reports. The 2020 RAV4 Hybrid only has 21 complaints, and the 2021 model has four.
This indicates that previous issues with the hybrid RAV4 may have been corrected. Also, the biggest issue with the 2019 model includes fuel system problems. Some drivers couldn’t completely fill the gas tank. But Toyota has replaced the fuel tank on affected models.
So, we can conclude that buying a used Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a good idea. It’s a reliable, fuel-efficient option that maintains its value. Replacing the battery could be annoying, but it could prolong your vehicle’s life for years.
